Hair cutting apparatus



Jan. 25, 1966 R. s. FELLAND 3,230,619

HAIR CUTTING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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HAIR CUTTING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 I 34 ZONE"I l vl l" .11" E 9 4,01,! 3 INVENTOR.

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mkmww United States Patent 3,230,619 HAIR CUTTING APPARATUS Raymond G.Felland, 511 Main St., Sparta, Wis. Filed Mar. 12, 1964, Ser. No.351,435 11 Claims. (Cl. 30-433) This invention relates to hair cuttingapparatus.

More specifically, this application relates to means for cutting hair toa uniform controllable length at any given location of a customers head.The apparatus includes a hair cutting apparatus which may be aconventional hair clipper, with the fixed teeth and the movable teeth ofthe clipper positioned within a hair clipping zone, within which thereis a stream of air moving outwardly from the skin of the person whosehair is to be cut, past the teeth of the clipper. This stream of airentrains the hair and keeps it upright so that as the clipper is moved,the hair is all cut to a uniform length.

The stream of air is produced by mounting a vacuum nozzle having a widthapproximately equal to the width of the clipper immediately adjacent tothe upper blade of the clipper, and by additionally supplying air underpressure to comb teeth having. nozzles which direct the air toward theclipper teeth and the vacuum nozzle from a point below the clipper. Inuse, it is intended that the air supply comb will be moved along theskin of the customer so that the exact length of the hair after it iscut may be predetermined by controlling the distance between the airsupply comb and the clipper teeth or other hair cutting means.

I also provide a series of air jets in the air comb or air supplymeanswhich are directed forwardly at an angle to the first mentioned airjets in order to raise the hair ahead of the clipping zone. This ensuresthat the hair will be in a position in which the stream of air from thefirst air jets toward the vacuum nozzle will entrain it.

The air supply comb is movable with respect to the hair cutting device,to lengthen thehair cutting zone. I find that with my device hair can becut accurately and uniformly to a length of asmuchas six or seveninches. In the prior art devices of which I am aware, the maximum lengthpractically attainable is a little over one inch. I am not aware of anyprior art device in which a stream of air is used to position the hair,as opposed to a device in which air is used to dispose of the cuttings,nor of any device which controls the path of the air at both ends of aclipping zone. It will be understood that the device of my inventiondoesdispose of the hair clippings, as do other prior art devices whichemployed an. air blast or a vacuum nozzle for this purpose, but itrequires. both the vacuum nozzle and the jet nozzles to control theattitude of the hair for accurate cutting.

Means for controlling the position of the air supply comb with respectto the clipper blades may take a variety of forms. The example which isillustrated shows the air supply comb on a movable frame which istelescopically related to a fixed frame attached to the clipper. Themovable frame bears a cam follower roller, and a fixed frame bears a camwhose position is controlled by the operator. As illustrated, thecontrol is manual, through a push-button and cam, but if desired myinvention may be incorporated in an automatic hair cutting device.However, such means form no part of the present invention.-

In an alternative form of the invention, I provide a pivot for the airsupply comb to move with respect to the movable frame so that it may beswung rearwardly out of registration with the hair cutting means. Inthis way, the same hair clipper which is used for cutting the longerhair may also be used for trimming the shortest hair that may be cut byany conventional clipper.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of my device with a portion of thevacuum nozzle broken away.

FIG. 2 is a top view of my device.

FIG. 3 is a right side view.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on lines 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in which the optional pivot for the aircomb is shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, my device consists of a conventional hair clipper 10having fixed comb teeth 11 and movable clipper teeth 12. Fixed directlyabove the clipper is a vacuum nozzle 13 which terminates in an opening14 the width of the clipper and directly above the movable clipper teeth12. Brackets 15 and 15 secure the vacuum nozzle 13 to the clipper 10.The vacuum nozzle is preferably curved to generally conform tothe shapeof the clipper so that it is not unduly bulky.

At the underside of the clipper is a comb shaped air supply means havinghollow teeth 21. Each tooth is shaped to conform generally to the shapeof the bottom of the clipper and the comb plate or fixed teeth 11.

The entire comb structure is mounted on a framework which permits it tomove in a path generally parallel to a line through the vacuum nozzleand the teeth of the cli per. As shown in the drawings, this frameconsists of a U-shaped member which is attached at 26 to the air supplycomb. A fixed frame 27 is provided with straight tubes 23 through whichthe parallel straight arms of U-shaped tube 25 extend. If desired, theends of U-shaped frame member 25 may terminate in a collar 29 having aset screw 39 to limit the outward movement of the air comb from theclipper blades, or the collars 29 may be omitted to permit removal ofthe comb 20 and frame 25 for close cutting.

As shown in FIG. 3', bracket 15' connects the vacuum nozzle 13 andclipper 10, and also supports fixed telescopic frame 27. As shown bestin FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket 15 which supports vacuum nozzle 13 andclipper 10 is also provided with an extension 31 to which tubular handle32 is secured. A push-button 33 and push rod 34 are slidabiy mountedwith respect to the handle so that the operator may operate push-button33 with his thumb for the purpose of controlling the spacing between theair supply comb teeth 21 and the fixed teeth 11 of the clipper. The endof push rod 34 is pivotally connected to a link 35, which in turn ispivot-ally connected to hell crank arm 36. Spring 37 extends betweenbell crank arm 36 and bracket extension 31 to bias push rod 34' in anupward direction, that is, in a direction in which push-button 33 isfarthest from handle 32.

Bell crank arm 36 is fixed to shaft 38 which is rotatably carried onv abracket 39' at the rear of clipper 16'. Carried on the other end ofshaft 38 is a cam which oscillates in a plane parallel and adjacent totelescopically related frames 25 and 27 as best shown in FIG. 2.

Looking now at FIG. 3, the cam 50' bears on a cam follower roller 51.Roller 51 is" rotatably mounted on a bracket 52 secured to movable frame25, which carries the air supply comb 20. A spring 53 extends betweenbracket 52 and bar 54 of fixed frame 27 to bias the movable frame 25toward a position in which the air comb 20 is directly adjacent to thefixed clipper teeth 11.

Upon actuation of push-button 33' toward handle 32, against the bias ofsprings 37 and 53, the cam Stl'is urged against roller 51, thus movingair supply comb 20 away from the fixed clipper teeth 11 along a pathwhich keeps the ends of the comb 20 aligned with the clipper teeth 11and 12 and the vacuum nozzle inlet 14.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the air supply comb includes a main air supplyconduit 60 and a series of comb teeth 21. The main air supply conduit 60is fixed to bracket 61, which is secured to movable frame 25.

As shown in FIG. 6, a pivot 90 may be provided for the air comb 2t).Pivot 99 is placed above the clipper and well forward, so that there isno downward component of motion of the comb. Thus the comb may be swungforwardy or rearwardly, either manually or automatically during the haircutting operation, Without loss of control of the length to which thehair is cut. With this feature the same clipper may be used for theclosest cuts and for cutting the longer hair.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the air orifices inair supply comb teeth 21 and their relationship to the hair cuttingzone. Each comb tooth 21 is provided with an air orifice 62 directedtoward the clipper teeth 11 and 12 and toward the vacuum nozzle inlet14. Each comb tooth 21 is also provided with an orifice 63 directedforwardly at an angle to the hair cutting zone and to air orifices 62.

The main air supply conduit 6% of the air supply comb is connected to aflexible conduit 79, which in turn is connected to the outlet of an airsupply means 71, such as a fan or other air moving device which iscapable of supplying air under pressure. .Vacuum nozzle 13 is connectedto a flexible air conduit 72 which is connected to the inlet of a fan orother air moving device 71. If desired, both air moving devices 71 maycomprise a single mechanism, similar to a conventional tank type vacuumcleaner, which is provided with both air supply and air removal ports towhich flexible conduits 70 and 72 may be attached, and which is providedwith filter means to prevent foreign objects such as cut hair from beingrecirculated in the system. These air moving devices may also compriseseparate units, if desirable.

In operation, the orifices or jets 62 and the vacuum inlet 14 establisha current of air propelled by the air moving device 71. Since there isan orifice 62 in each comb tooth 21, and vacuum inlet nozzle 14 extendsacross the entire width of teeth 11 and 12, this stream of air isessentially the width of the clipper blades and its length is determinedby the operator, using push-button 33. .I have designated the zone inwhich this curtain of air flows, and in which the hair cutting deviceoperates, as the cutting zone. Ahead of this hair cutting zone is astream of air from orifices or jets 63, which impinges on the hair at anangle, and lifts it to a more erect position. As applicants device isadvanced, hair which has been lifted by the air from jets 63 isentrained in the stream of air from jets 62 to vacuum nozzle 14, and isheld essentially straight as clipper teeth 11 and 12 cut it off. Duringnormal operation, air supply comb teeth 21 will be resting upon the skinand gliding along it, so that the length to which the hair is cut is afunction of the distance between air supply comb teeth 21 and clipperteeth 11 and 12. Other hair cutting means may be substituted for clipperand clipper teeth 11 and 12, as long as the hair cutting means iscapable of cutting hair at a location a fixed distance from one end of ahair cutting zone, the zone being established by a fixed air conduit anda movable air conduit with a stream of air flowing between the twoconduits. I have found that this combination permits accurate cutting ofhair up to a length of seven or more inches, whereas prior devices arenot capable of accurate work in which the hair is to be cut more thanabout one inch long. This means that my device iscapable of cutting bothmens and womens hair.

The control mechanisms are intended to be exemplary, since many forms ofmechanism could be adopted to achieve the desired control over theposition of the air supply comb 20. For instance, it would be possibleto place my entire mechanism on a device which is movable along pathswhich are so related to a customers head as to cut the hair in apredetermined hair style. Control means may also be provided whichrecord the movements and adjustments of my device during an initialmanual hair cutting operation so that these movements and adjustmentsmay be duplicated through the use of automatic, rather than manualcontrol mechanisms in subsequent automatically controlled hair cuttingoperations for the same customer. This is possible because of theextreme length to Which my device can cut hair accurately. It wasimpossible with priorart devices, even though the automatic controldevices are available, because of the limited length to which they couldcut the hair accurately.

I claim:

1.. Means for clipping hair to a uniform length, comprising .ahair'cutter having a hair cutting zone, hair cutting means positionedfor operation in said hair cutting-zone, at least one air moving device,air supply means provided with connections to the outlet of a said airmoving device, said air supply means having a terminal portion definingone end of said hair cutting zone, said terminal portion being providedwith first orifice means, air removal means connected to the inlet of asaid air moving device, said air removal means having a terminal portiondefining the other end of said hair cutting zone, said first orificemeans being adapted to discharge air within said hair cutting zone pastsaid hair cutting means and toward said air removal means, the hairwithin said hair cutting zone being maintained erect between said firstorifice means and said air removal means by air passing from said firstorifice means to said air removal means, said hair cutting means havinga fixed relationship to said air removal means, whereby hair within saidhair cutting zone is cut to a uniform length determined by the length ofthe zone.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said terminal portion of said airsupply means is provided with second orifice means, said second orificemeans being adapted to discharge air at a forwardly inclined angle toair discharged by said first orifice means to lift the hair in a zoneahead of said hair cutting zone.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said air supply means comprises aplurality of generally parallel air tubes spaced laterally from eachother to form a comb underlying said hair cutting means, a said firstorifice on each said air tube, said first orifices being aligned in anarray parallel to the operative parts of said hair cutting means anddirected thereat.

4. The device of claim 2 in which said air supply means comprises aplurality of generally parallel air tubes spaced laterally from eachother to form a comb underlying said hair cutting means, a said secondorifice on each said air tube, said second orifice being aligned in anarray parallel to the operative parts of said hair cutting means.

5. The device of claim 1 including means for varying the spacing betweensaid air supplying means and said hair cutting means, said means forvarying the spacing being adapted to move said air supply meanssubstantially in a path which is an extension'of a plane extendingthrough said air removal means and said hair cutting means.

6. The device of claim 1 in which said air supply means is pivotallymounted on a pivot axis spaced upwardly from the hair cutting zonewhereby said air tube means may be oscillated into and away from saidzone.

7. The device of claim 1:in which said air supply means is detachablysecured to said hair cutting means.

8. The device of claim 7 in which; said air supply means is mounted on afirst U-shaped frame having parallel legs, said hair cutting means andsaid air removal means being secured to a. second frame provided withparallel tubes, the parallel legs of said first U-shaped frame beingtelescopically related to said parallel tubes of said second frame, saidtubes being substantially parallel to a line from said first orifices ofsaid air supply means through said air removal means, spring meansconnected to said frames adapted to bias said first U-shaped frame formovement of said air supply means toward said hair cutting means, andcontrol means associated with one of the frames adapted to move theother said frame in a direction to increase the distance between saidair supply means and said hair cutting means to predetermine the lengthto which the hair will be cut.

9. The device of claim 8 in which said control means comprises a rollermounted for rotation with respect to said first U-shaped frame, a camoscillatably secured to said second frame and mounted to bear on saidroller, and manual control means to position said cam.

10. A hair cutting device comprising a hair clipper having a body, fixedclipper teeth and movable clipper teeth, said fixed and movable clipperteeth extending laterally at the front of said body, a vacuum nozzlehaving an open end positioned above said fixed and movable teeth andhaving susbtantially the same lateral extent as said teeth, an airsupply comb having hollow teeth con- 6 nected to an air supply conduit,a plurality of said hollow teeth being provided with orifices directedtoward said clipper teeth and said vacuum nozzle.

11. The device of claim 10 in which said comb is mounted on a pivot foroscillation rearwardly with respect to said clipper teeth, said pivotbeing so located that said comb has no component of motion away fromsaid nozzle along the axis of said nozzle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,051,714 1/1913Edwards 132113 X 1,572,644 2/ 1926 Farnsworth.

2,013,279 9/1935 Maleev 30202 2,915,070 12/1959 Benson 132--45 WILLIAMFELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

1. MEANS FOR CLIPPING HAIR TO A UNIFORM LENGTH, COMPRISING A HAIR CUTTERHAVING A HAIR CUTTING ZONE, HAIR CUTTING MEANS POSITIONED FOR OPERATIONIN SAID HAIR CUTTING ZONE, AT LEAST ONE AIR MOVING DEVICE, AIR SUPPLYMEANS PROVIDED WITH CONNECTIONS TO THE OUTLET OF A SAID AIR MOVINGDEVICE, SAID AIR SUPPLY MEANS HAVING A TERMINAL PORTION DEFINING ONE ENDOF SAID HAIR CUTTING ZONE, SAID TERMINAL PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITHFIRST ORIFICE MEANS, AIR REMOVAL MEANS CONNECTED TO THE INLET OF A SAIDAIR MOVING DEVICE, SAID AIR REMOVAL MEANS HAVING A TERMINAL PORTIONDEFINING THE OTHER END OF SAID HAIR CUTTING ZONE, SAID FIRST ORIFICEMEANS BEING ADAPTED TO DISCHARGE AIR WITHIN SAID HAIR CUTTING ZONE PASTSAID HAIR CUTTING MEANS AND TOWARD SAID AIR REMOVAL MEANS, THE HAIRWITHIN SAID HAIR CUTTING ZONE BEING MAINTAINED ERECT BETWEEN SAID FIRSTORIFICE MEANS AND SAID AIR REMOVAL MEANS BY AIR PASSING FROM SAID FIRSTORIFICE MEANS TO SAID AIR REMOVAL MEANS, SAID HAIR CUTTING MEANS HAVINGA FIXED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID AIR REMOVAL MEANS, WHEREBY HAIR WITHIN SAIDHAIR CUTTING ZONE IS CUT TO A UNIFORM LENGTH DETERMINED BY THE LENGTH OFTHE ZONE.